Monday, September 26, 2011

These four great records feature legendary primaš, vocalist, and band leaderDušan Jovanović, one of the greatest - and least appreciated - musicians of the 20th century. These eight tracks were recorded in 1925 and 1926 with the "Orao" Tamburica Orchestra.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

These three great records feature talented vocalist and musician Mitar Bulatovich. On four of the tracks he's accompanied by an amazing unnamed tamburitza orchestra (maybe the Serbian Radio Orchestra with violinists Mel Dokich and Danilo Kozarski?). On the other two tracks Mitar is singing and playing the accordion.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Here's another great record by Vlado Konstantinović and Tamburaški Zbor "BANAT" featuring some wonderful folk songs (side two also ends with a great version of "Čergo moja čergice"). This is the third record I've posted by this group. You can listen to the other records here (patriotic songs) & here (recitation with music). I really wish I knew more about this orchestra.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Edo Ljubić was one of the most influential figures in American tamburitza music. When he arrived here from Yugoslavia in the late 1930's to perform at the Worlds Fair he was already a well established and extremely popular singer and musician. He performed in Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia and even had his own radio show in Belgrade, which only increased his popularity and landed him gigs all over Europe. Upon his arrival in America Edo was an instant sensation. His style was something new and fresh and marked a real turning point in the music. He played with all the great tamburitza musicians of the time and no doubt was a huge inspiration to all of them. His career lasted for decades and he recorded countless 78 rpms, 45's, and LP's with his own orchestras as well as many others. There's a nice biography of Edo Ljubić in English here; and one in Croatian here.

These recordings of Edo Ljubić with the Kapugi Brothers Tamburitza Orchestra are a great example of his collaboration with America's premier tamburaši. The arrangements for these four tracks are all by Edo. The first record features a beautiful old Bosnian song, "U Stambulu na Bosforu", one of his most famous recordings. The second record features Edo singing two famous old numbers. The first, "Neven Kolo", a dance composed by legendary Serbian band leader, tamburaš, and composer Marko Nešić of Novi Sad. The second is "Kad sam bio mlađan lovac ja", a famous song which is usually attributed to composer Marko Nešić, but which was in fact composed by Alojz Lesjak, a conductor from Šid and Vukovar.¹

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Johnny M. Latkovich and his Neven Tamburitza Orchestra from N.S. Pittsburgh, PA. perform a unique rendition of "Razbole se belo done", a song from renowned Serbian composer Stanislav Binički's "Mijatovke". The other side of the record is a nice version of the ever popular "Zaplet Kolo".

Milan Opacich's lifetime collection of vintage tamburitza string instruments was displayed for the first time in it's entirety by the Serbian Historical Society at St. Sava's Serb Fest 2011. Hundreds viewed the exhibit of photos, artifacts, and rare instruments complete with their descriptions. Featured were The Popovich Brothers, Crljenica Brothers, Steve Barich, and opera singer Danica Chirich (Diana Henery). A "Work in Progress" showed some of the steps and tools involved in building instruments.Visit St. Sava or contact Milan Opacich at:http://www.localbizblogs.com/stsava